- The umbilical cord — often casually discarded after birth — may
play a pivotal role in curing devastating diseases such as
Parkinson's.
Craig Cady, biology professor at Bradley University, researches stem
cells found in umbilical cords and adult bone marrow in hopes of
finding a cure.

He attended the Shake, Rattle & Roll for Parkinson's disease
fundraiser held Sunday on the riverfront. The event featured an ice
cream social, a run/walk and a carnival.

'What we're trying to do is influence stem cells to change and
function like neurons,' he said. 'The concept is to replace damaged
neurons that were destroyed by Parkinson's.'

Stem cells are unspecialized cells, with no specific function. They
can be manipulated to work in different parts of the body, such as
neurons in the brain, he said.

'We are getting very close to clinical trials,' he said. 'We're
within five years of reasonable clinical trials where we actually
try it on patients.'

The annual event, which attracted a few hundred people, was put on
by a group called Calipso Connection. Calipso stands for Central
Illinois Advocates for Lives Interrupted by Parkinson's Support
Organization.

President Joan Snyder started the fundraiser six years ago after
struggling with the disease herself.

'I thought this was a piece of cake disease,' she said. 'Then
suddenly the full force of the disease hit me and I had brain
surgery.'

During her second brain surgery, a blood vessel was touched and she
had stroke on the operating table.

'After the stroke it took me seven months to recover,' she
said. 'During that time I decided if anyone does anything about
this ... disease, it would have to be me.'

She said she expects the event to raise about $20,000.

Much of the money will stay here in central Illinois, donated to
Peoria's Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and to
Cady's research.

'The more funds and support we have, the faster we can do the
research,' Cady said. 'It takes time and it takes money,
unfortunately.'

Walk participants received a T-shirt and butterfly to release at the
turn-around point during the walk.

A small ceremony featuring Hannah Offutt on guitar and vocals
accompanied the release of the butterflies in tribute to loved ones
lost to the disease. Live entertainment, food vendors and arts and
crafts for sale rounded out the event.

Troy Webb, 42, was diagnosed with Parkinson's two years ago and is
now Calipso's treasurer.

'I decided I wanted to get involved to help find a cure,' he
said. 'It started slowing my fine motor skills on the right side of
the body.'

Webb is a purchasing agent for a chemical company — work that
involves a lot of typing and computer use.

'It's getting harder to type and use a mouse,' he said. 'I'm in the
process of purchasing voice-activated software so I don't have to
type as much.'

He said he doesn't expect a cure in the near future that will help
him, but he hopes volunteering with groups like Calipso will help
Parkinson's patients in the future.
ED McMENAMIN
PEORIA , October 1, 2007(the Journal Star)